“I Was Quite Ruthless”: Ken Hinkley Opens Up About Feeling ‘Ashamed’ During Jack Ginnivan Controversy in the AFL

Ken Hinkley has expressed his frustration with the AFL, claiming he felt “ashamed” and “misused” following his well-publicised altercation with Jack Ginnivan during his final days at Port Adelaide.

The ex-coach was slapped with a $20,000 fine for a controversial gesture directed at Ginnivan and other Hawthorn players after a semi-final win in 2024.

Hinkley’s gesture, mimicking an aeroplane, was provoked by Ginnivan’s pre-match social media posts suggesting that the Hawks would defeat Port and secure a spot in that year’s preliminary final against Sydney.

The conflict between Hinkley and Ginnivan was subsequently leveraged by the AFL to promote the previous year’s Gather Round matchup between the clubs, highlighting their personal feud.

In an interview on SEN’s Whately, the 59-year-old reflected extensively on his experiences after stepping down from his position at Port at the conclusion of the last season.

“The AFL chose to fine me and create a sense of shame around me, which I found difficult to accept … I felt there was a distinct lack of empathy in how they treated me throughout this whole experience,” Hinkley stated.

“I did feel exploited, undoubtedly, and I can be candid about it now that I’m no longer in the game.”

“I took responsibility for my actions; I acknowledged what I did and was quite embarrassed by my behaviour. However, for the AFL to fine me while simultaneously using it to promote Gather Round, involving me, the Hawks, and Ginnivan – who thankfully took it in stride – made me feel a bit misused, particularly when they were taking a moral stance on my conduct,” he added.

“It did hurt me, there’s no doubt about that. I didn’t ask for much, but I did expect some level of consideration, which I didn’t receive, leading to what transpired.”

The highly anticipated rematch between Hawthorn and Port last season certainly drew plenty of attention, featuring Ginnivan celebrating a goal with an aeroplane-themed celebration.

Hinkley’s time with the Power concluded after 12 years, having recorded 174 victories from 297 matches.